Slammer coaches re-unite with Chiefs

The Chilliwack Chiefs announced Wednesday that Kyle Adams has been hired as associate coach.

Adams has spent the last five years coaching at the junior A level. That includes three years working with current Chiefs head coach Jason Tatarnic when both were with the Woodstock Slammers.

“I’ve known him for a long time, so this should be a real easy transition,” Tatarnic said. “When players arrive for training camp in the fall I think it is important for them to see a staff that is on the same page right from day one, delivering the same message.

“All of the coaches are equal in their opinions and thought process,” he continued. “Their opinions matter and their ideas may be the correct one at times. The players have to see the coaches working toward a common goal.”

Adams’ duties will include recruiting, and Tatarnic said he’s got a solid network of contacts in Ontario.

Adams has twice held junior A head coaching positions, with the AJHL Drayton Valley Thunder and Central Canadian Hockey League Dixie Beehives.

“We all have our pipelines and networks, and he’s got a great one within Ontario,” Tatarnic said. “And that’s really important because if you look at the junior A rosters across Canada, there’s lots of players from Ontario.”

Adams played university hockey for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks and bounced around the minor pro ranks for a spell.

Tatarnic added a second coach Thursday morning, bringing Paul Nicolls back into the fold.

Nicolls served as the team’s strength and conditioning coach the last three years and adds ‘assistant coach’ to his title.

“He’s a former D-man, which is nice, and he’s got a calm demeanor,” Tatarnic said. “From what I’ve seen and heard, you can tell the players he’s worked with the last three years respected and appreciated him.”

His involvement with the Chiefs dates back to the team’s first season in Chilliwack (1990), when he joined up as a 16 year old blueliner. He was an assistant coach in 2000 when the team won a BCHL championship and finished third at the RBC Cup tournament in Fort McMurray, AB.

When I first arrived I had a few discussions with Paul,” Tatarnic said. “I think I piqued his curiosity a bit as he saw the direction we wanted to go. The more we talked, the more he wanted to be involved, and I think he’s a solid addition to the coaching staff.”